2013 Toyota Etios and Liva: First Drive

The Toyota twins the Etios and Etios Liva get a new 2013 avatar with revised interiors, and slight changes in its exteriors. The ZigWheels team tests the twins to find out the changes

Toyota has launched updated versions of both the sedan and the hatch in what seems to be a departure from the usual "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" policy that most auto makers seem to adopt

As brilliant and as practical as the Etios and Liva are, they did suffer from styling. So these updates bring about a few small visual changes which we think should go a long way in increasing these cars' universal appeal.

The first thing you notice is the refreshed front grille, with little protrusions ("aero fins" as Toyota calls them) along the vertical slats giving it a slightly sporty appearance

The same "aero fins" can also be found on the revamped taillight clusters of both cars.

The ORVMs have lost their boxy appearance and have now been replaced with sleeker, more streamlined units which gel much better with the overall design.

The top end trim levels also get built in turn indicators in these new mirrors

The instrument cluster maintains its central position, but now features a blue shaded background - a significant improvement over the slightly garish all-plastic treatment found earlier

The front seats now have adjustable head restraints while the rear seat head restraints get bigger pillows.

The revamped front grille resemble that of the Corolla's or Innova's .

The mid range models feature a new music player with USB connectivity while the new audio unit for the top end trim comes with Bluetooth, USB and aux-in options.

No climate control option yet, but the A/C knobs have been worked on to feel more premium than before

The whacky red and black interiors, which are now replaced by a 2-tone premium Ash Brown treatment throughout the cabin